The Opelousas courier., 1887-03-12
FAMILY BURIAL LOTS.
Hon. They Should be Selected
and Embellished.
Choosing a Site, size Of Lot, Monuments
and Arrangement Of Graves.

and Arrangement OF Grayas'
The most suitable locations for family
lots in q rural cemetery are on slightly
elevated grounds, on natural hllis'aes'
on rolling undulations. Fiat or level
sections have the disadvantage OF then
monuments being foreshortcned, when
located near the middle Of a section,
while too deep or abrupt grounds are IN
convenient Of access; besides that, MS
surface is liable to be washed.
The selection of a site near the middle
of a cemetery, or on asec.uded boundary
section, is simply q matter OF taste, a.
both localities have their charm and
beauty.
For a costly and elaborate monument
a conspicuous situation is generally pre-
ferrcd, and lots facing a main path OF
drive selected on account of the largest
number of visitors passing, and
such arc the most suitable sitct
lol lLOSo VIM dCSlio pi'ii
ncnce; while the quictness of a
boundary section with abundance q
dark and deep foliage, away firm the
thoroughfarc of the principal and LEAH
ing drives and paths, where the birds
build their nests and fill the solitude OF
the sacred place with sweet and tnneful
songs, fin as many admirers. 1t is
therefore safe to say that any of these
locations are good.
The size of a family burial lot de-
ponds upon the probable number of in-
terments, the taste of its owner, and the
size of monument proposed to be
erected. The average size of q first
class family lot is 20x20 feet or 24224
feet. The former admits IA grav,s with
space for a monument of 3x4 feet at the
base, besides sufficient room for decora-
tive planting; the latter, is graves with
room for a centre monument, measuring
at its base 6x6 feet, beside planting
space. In nine cases out of ten
but half the originally proposed
interments will be made ON the lot.
From careful observations in our most
promin mt and oldest cemeteries, the
average area of sucha lot is nearly seven
times the space required for that number
of graves.
The purchaser, in selecting q family
burial lot, should know beforehand what
style and size monument he proposes to
erect, or whether the horizontal slab
shall be substituted in its place. For a
conspicuous, costly monument, a prom
inent location is decidedly preferable to
a secluded, perhaps obecure location. An
elevated point gives promi- ence to an
obellsk or a column, erected on q high
pedestal; while a location at the june
ton of several drives, with an oppor-
tunity of viewing the same from
different points, is preferable for
a statue, or fine sculptural works.
A large monument requires liberal
space, and it would be a great mistake
to erect such on an ordinary sized lot,
without room to arrange graves in an APP
propriate style, and to plant what is nee
essary to relieve the base of the monu-
ment from adjoining lot decorations.
And to buy a family burial place with
out considering the question of a monu-
ment, leaving it for further considera.
ton, is equally wrong, and has often
caused deep regret.
The manner of arranging graves on a
family lot should also be decided before
any interments are made. Assuming
that the base of the monument forms
a square, with two graves on each OF
It's four sides, laying at right angles to
their respective fronts, thus providing
room for eight graves, with the he dis
nearest to the monument, and about one
foot apart from the same; but if the
family need more room, graves can be
located upon the diagonal lines of the
square; three feet from the corner of the
monument there Is room for additional
graves adjoining. In this arrangement
sufficient space will be found for deco
rative planting, and it is ques tionable
whether all graves will be occupied, the
rear graves may safely be marked as
such for temporary planting, if the sur
roundings demands a background for the
monument, or stately tree, should the
owner prefer it, in place of the same
Buffalo C~enaentarian.
OWLs tas the West.
"Owls must be thicker than spiders